HomeMy WebLinkAboutVA199100031 Action Letter 1991-08-14COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
Department of Zoning
401 McIntire Road
Charlottesville, Virginia 22901-4596
(804) 296-5875
August 14, 1991
Philip Crocker
Turner Enterprises, Ltd.
212 E. High Street
Charlottesville, VA 22901
RE: Board of Zoning Appeals Action
Charlottesville Eye Associates
Tax Map 78, Parcel 17G1
Dear Mr. Turner:
This letter is to inform you that on August 13, 1991, during the
meeting of the Albemarle County Board of Zoning Appeals, the Board
unanimously approved your request for VA-91-31, subject the
following conditions:
1. Approval is for a sign measuring no more than 18 square
feet; no portion of which shall be closer than ten feet
to the right-of-way of South Pantops Drive.
2. Colors, lettering and other details shall be a shown in
layout from Gropen, received June 29, 1991, submittted
with application.
This variance approval allows relief from Section 4.15.3.7 of the
Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance to reduce front setback from
South Pantops Drive from 30 to 7 feet for an 18 square foot sign.
If you have any questions, please contact our office.
Sincerely,
Babette Thorpe
Zoning Assistant
BT/ sp
STAFF PERSON: Babette Thorpe
PUBLIC HEARING: 8/13/91
STAFF REPORT - VA-91-31
OWNER/APPLICANT: P-M Riverbend Limited Partnership/Charlottesville
Eye Associates
TAX MAP/PARCEL: 78-17G1
ZONING: PD-SC, Planned Development -Shopping Center
ACREAGE: 1.068
LOCATION: Intersection of Riverbend Drive and South Pantops
Drive
REQUEST: In order to place an 18-square foot sign seven feet from
the right-of-way of Pantops Drive, the applicant requests relief
from Section 21.7.1, "Minimum Yard Requirements", of the Albemarle
County Zoning Ordinance, which states:
Adjacent to public streets: No portion of any structure
except signs advertising sale or rental of the property shall
be erected closer than thirty (30) feet to any public street
right-of-way.
As justification for this request, the applicant offers the
following:
The Charlottesville Eye Associates provides service to
elderly -sighted patients who would find it difficult if not
impossible to read a sign that must be placed thirty feet from
the road.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff agrees that it is important to provide
legible signage to people with imperfect vision and the 18-square
foot sign is much smaller than the 100 square feet allowed to
freestanding business signs in PD-SC districts. This request meets
one of the three criteria for approval:
3. The applicant has provided evidence that the authorization of
such variance will not be of substantial detriment to adjacent
property and that the character of the district will not be
changed by the granting of the variance. While there have
been no variances granted for signs in the immediate area of
the clinic, it is likely that the proposed sign would be less
obtrusive than a sign of the square footage allowed by right,
at the proper setback.
Nevertheless, staff recommends denial for cause:
1. The applicant has not provided evidence that the strict
application of the ordinance would produce undue hardship.
The office is prominently located at an intersection. There
are no other signs or landscaping that would obscure a sign
placed at the proper setback.
0
2. The applicant has not provided evidence that such hardship is
not shared generally by other properties in the same zoning
district and the same vicinity.
Should the Board approve this request, staff recommends the
following conditions:
1. Approval is for a sign measuring no more than 18 square feet;
no portion of which shall be closer than s -vim feet to the
right of way of South Pantops Drive. 'hen
2. Colors, lettering and other details shall be as shown in
layout from Gropen, received 6/29/91, submitted with
application.